Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
16 – 18 October 2021 Daily Human Rights Report
(10/173) Operations and Attacks…
It is learned from the news coverage of October 17, 2021 that 3 HPG militants died in the air operation of Turkish Armed Forces to Qandil area of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government on September 20, 2021.
(10/174) Abducted Person in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of October 15, 2021 that, Muharrem Sungurhan, a member of the Revolutionary Party, was abducted on September 24, 2021 in Istanbul. It is learned that he was subjected to torture and ill-treatment in the car where he was taken in forcibly, and he was pushed out of the car.
Burcugül Çubuk, deputy chair of the Revolutionary Party, stated the following during the press declaration at the Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul office: “Two people have stopped him as Muharrem went out at 11 p.m. on September 24, they forcibly took him into a car and then threw him out of the car after beating him.”
(10/175) Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of October 16, 2021 that, a person who was detained in Sultanbeyli district of Istanbul on a warrant (H. T.) and his brother (F. T.) were subjected to torture and ill-treatment.
H. T. stated the following to the press: “After I was detained by the watchmen, a police officer named M. E. got me in a car with handcuffs behind my back, and he choked me in the car. İn 2016, I had an incident where I made criminal complaints about the police. The watchmen saw this on my records during general information check and they said ‘They have not done what should be done then, now we will take you to the police station and do what is needed to be done’ in a harsh way. Then I was taken by the police to Sultanbeyli Ahmet Yesevi Police Station in a civil car. They choked me and punched me in the car. One of the watchmen punched me too. (…) When we went to the station, they wanted me to lie down to the faucet in the bathrooms, and when I rejected, they kicked me and forced me to do so. They broke the faucet and wet all around. They tortured me with kicks. They pulled my hair to forcibly put water in my mouth.”
F. T. stated the following: “Two of the watchmen cursed me and my brother. They beat us on the way to the police station. I was not beaten at the station but my brother was. When they took us to the hospital for medical reports, A. E., one of the watchmen said ‘I will not make criminal complaints against you, so you would not be against me either’ to me.”
(10/176) Person Forced to be Police Informant in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of October 15, 2021 that, Serhat Öztemel, a member of the Revolutionary Party was forced to be a police informant.
Serhat Öztemel stated the following during the press declaration at the HRA Istanbul office: “I was detained on September 24 and was under custody for 3 days. I was forced to be a police informant during that time. The police said ‘You are the only child of your parents, who will take care of them if you don’t work? You can keep your job if you help us’ to threaten me. Then they called me after this detention. They said they would come back. They said ‘we are now in the same district’ on October 6, and wanted to meet but I said I was working. They said ‘Look, we are not coming there with a white Toros car, tell us what you know’ to threaten me.”
(10/177) People Forced to be Police Informants Under Custody in Istanbul…
The People’s Law Office made a declaration on October 17, 2021 and stated that at least 80 people who were detained on October 15, 2021 through an Istanbul based investigation were forced to be police informants.
(10/178) Lawyer Subjected to Torture and Ill-Treatment in Diyarbakır…
It is learned that lawyer Elif İpek Tirenç Ulaş who went to Istasyon Square in Diyarbakır to participate in the meeting there on October 16, 2021; was subjected to body search attempt of the police at the control point although she has submitted her lawyer ID card, and that she was subjected to physical violence of the police as she rejected it.
(10/179) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of October 17, 2021 that, in Elazığ High Security Prison No 1, prisoners are asked to pay for translation of Kurdish books and letters sent to them, the number of the books per prisoner is limited to 7 and prisoners are not given Evrensel, Yeni Yaşam and Kurdish Xwebun newspapers.
(10/180) Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of October 15, 2021 that, Aydın Budak, former mayor of Cizre district of Şırnak who is kept in Istanbul Silivri L Type Prison No 7 was not receiving medical treatment.
It is learned from the news coverage of October 17, 2021 that, Adnan Yalçın, an ill prisoner in Antep H Type Prison was not receiving medical treatment, on the grounds of precautions for Covid-19 pandemic.
It is claimed in the news coverage of October 17, 2021 that, prisoners who tested positive for Covid-19 in Elazığ High Security Prison No 1, were given expired drugs.
(10/181) Police Intervention to a Protest in Istanbul…
The police intervened the march of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Youth Assembly members in Beyoğlu district of Istanbul on October 16, 2021; to protest the ban of Mezopotamya Cultural Center’s concert. The police detained 10 people including 2 journalists (Muhammed Enes Sezgin and Mahmut Altuntaş) who are released after statement procedures.
(10/182) Detained CHP Members in Istanbul…
On October 14, 2021, several members of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) including Kadıköy district secretary Süleyman İşler, who were distributing the leaflet “Criminal Record Holding: A Story of Illıcit Money-Politics-Jurisdiction” of the party in Kadıköy district of Istanbul are detained by the police. Detained people are released after the statement procedures on the same day. It is learned that the police seized the leaflets.
(10/183) Detained Person in Diyarbakır…
It is learned that 1 person (Hatice Beytur) who went to Istasyon Square in Diyarbakır on October 16, 2021 to participate in the meeting there, is detained by the police at the control point, on the grounds of yellow-red-green flag she had.
(10/184) Detained People Through an Istanbul Based Investigation…
On October 15, 2021, at least 80 people are detained in operations covering 15 cities through an Istanbul based investigation. It is learned that detained people are taken to 7 different gendarmerie stations besides Istanbul Provincial Security Directorate.
(10/185) Detained People in Antalya…
6 people including Antalya Community House chair Gülkan Gülseven, the Socialist Refoundation Party (SYKP) Party Assembly member Taylan Sönmez, and the Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP) executive Enes Keskin, who were detained in house raids in Antalya on October 12, 2021, on the grounds of participating in the commemoration held on March 30, 2021 for those who lost their lives in Kızıldere; are released by the court on October 15, 2021.
(10/186) Turkish Medical Association Board Member on Trial…
The trial of the case against Turkish Medical Association (TTB) Honorary Board member doctor Şeyhmus Gökalp is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 10 on October 15, 2021.
The prosecutor declared legal opinion on the case and demanded sentence from 7 years and 6 months up to 15 years for Şeyhmus Gökalp on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ for participating in Democratic Society Congress (DTK) activities.
The court adjourned the trial to November 19, 2021.
Şeyhmus Gökalp was arrested on November 23, 2020 and was released from prison at the first trial held on February 10, 2021.
(10/187) Former HDP MP on Trial…
The final trial of the case against former HDP MP Aysel Tuğluk is held at Van Heavy Penal Court No 4 on October 15, 2021. Aysel Tuğluk joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system. The court sentenced Aysel Tuğluk to 1 year and 8 months on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’.
(10/188) Journalist and Lawyers on Trial in Izmir…
The first trial of the case against 1 journalist and 25 lawyers who had been detained by the police intervening the press declaration on August 22, 2019 to protest trustee appointment to Diyarbakır, Mardin and Van municipalities, is held at Izmir Penal Court of First Instance No 8 on October 15, 2021.
The indictment demands sentence for 26 people on the charge of ‘participating in unlawful meetings’.
The court decided to consider the defendant lawyers’ demand for recusation and adjourned the trial to February 11, 2022.
(10/189) Lawyer on Trial for Social Media Posts in Hatay…
The trial of the case against lawyer Hakan Mazman, on the charge of “insulting the President” in his social media post about July 15 Coup Attempt, is held at Hatay Iskenderun Penal Court of First Instance No 2 on October 15, 2021. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial.
(10/190) Ankara JİTEM Case…
Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 1 has acquitted former Interior Minister Mehmet Ağar, İbrahim Şahin, Korkut Eken, Ayhan Çarkın, Ayhan Akça, Ziya Bandırmalıoğlu, Ercan Ersoy, Ahmet Demirel, Ayhan Özkan, Seyfettin Lap, Enver Ulu, Uğur Şahin, Alper Tekdemir, Yusuf Yüksel, Abbas Semih Sueri, Lokman Külünk, Mahmut Yıldırım, Nurettin Güven, Muhsin Korman, on the case known as “Ankara JİTEM case”, regarding the unidentified murders committed in and around Ankara between 1993 and 1996. Ankara Regional Court Penal Department No 1 has reversed the local court’s verdict and ruled a retrial. The first hearing of the retrial is held on October 15, 2021.
Ayhan Çarkın stated the following in his defence: “I want to confront other defendants. I demand and inquiry and investigation for the incidents.” The court rejected the complainant lawyers’ demand for summoning of the defendants and adjourned the trial to January 21, 2022.
(10/191) Ban of Event in Istanbul…
The concert for 30th anniversary of Mezopotamya Cultural Center, to be held at Bostancı Show Center in Kadıköy district of Istanbul on October 16, 2021, is banned by Kadıköy Sub-Governorate’s Office on the grounds of ‘protecting peace, safety and public order and preventing criminal acts’ on October 16, 2021 although Istanbul Governorate’s Office’s permission.
(10/192) Ban of Events in Van…
Van Governorate made a declaration on October 15, 2021 and announced that, all open-door meetings and demonstrations are banned for 15 days as of October 16, 2021. It is also announced that press declarations, sit-in protests, opening stands and tents, collecting petitions, distributing leaflets and so on will be subjected to the local authority’s permission. All events are banned in Van for 1804 days since November 21, 2016.
(10/193) Ban of Access to Web Contents…
It is learned that the news report about arrest of Boğaziçi University students upon complaint of the rector Naci Inci, published on https://www.gercekgundem.com website is banned to access on the grounds of violation of personal rights, by İstanbul Penal Court of Peace No 8 on October 8, 2021.
It is learned that the news report about TUGVA papers, published on https://ilerihaber.org website is banned to access on the grounds of violation of personal rights, by Osmaniye Penal Court of Peace No 1 on October 15, 2021.
It is learned that the news reports about the reason of resignation of a member of the Judges and Prosecutor’s Board (HSK) published on https://www.dw.com/tr/gündem/s-10201, https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr, https://haber.sol.org.tr/mobil websites are banned to access on the grounds of violation of personal rights, by Ankara Penal Court of Peace No 4 on October 16, 2021.
(10/194) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On October 15, 2021, 46 people are detained in operations covering 45 cities through an Ankara based investigation.
(10/195) Covid-19 Pandemic…
The Ministry of Health declared that 181 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and the daily number of Covid-19 cases is 30,694 as of October 15, 2021.
The Ministry of Health declared that 212 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and the daily number of Covid-19 cases is 28,537 as of October 16, 2021.
The Ministry of Health declared that 186 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and the daily number of Covid-19 cases is 24,114 as of October 17, 2021.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 68,049 and total number of confirmed ill patients is 7,615,800 as of October 17, 2021.
[1]The reports on the human rights violations of the Documentation Center are claims unless they are certified. The claim of violation either is certified through thoroughly investigations of HRFT Documentation Center, including by judicial verdicts, and becomes a definite data or it is not included to the annual report.
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[5] Daily Human Rights Reports are prepared on the information gathered by the Documentation Center from its own network and the following dailies and internet portals: Vatan, Milliyet, Hürriyet, Habertürk, Evrensel, Birgün, Cumhuriyet, Fırat Haber Ajansı, Jinnews, ETHA, Mezopotamya Ajansı, Yurt, Yeni Yaşam, NTV, Yeni Asya, Bianet, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, Tr724, İleri Haber, Siyasi Haber, Alınteri, Kızılbayrak, Sendika.org, Yüksekova Haber, T24, Diken, Gazete Karınca, Gazete Duvar. Haber Sol, El Cezire, BBC, Deutsche Welle, Reuters, AFP.